Paper characterized by its impervious nature and strength.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES IGNATIUS GOESSIWIANN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNOR TO VELLUMOID PAPER COMPANY, OF AMHERST, MAS- SACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

PAPER CHARACTERIZED BY lTS IMPERVIOUS NATURE AND STRENGTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14:, 1905.

Original application filed August 16 1900, Serial No. 27.086. Divided and this application filed February 24, 1903. Serial No. 144,807.

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES IGNATIUS Gonss- MANN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Worcester, in the county of WVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper Characterized by Its Impervious Nature and Strength, (this application being a division of an application filed by me in the United States Patent Ofiice August 16, 1900, Serial No. 27,086,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to paper the product resulting from novel treatment either during the primary process of manufacture into paper or after the same has been manufactured, such treated paper possessing a texture which has been greatly strengthened and being as a whole rendered substantially impervious to water, moisture, grease, acid, &c.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce a paper which is stronger than other products of a similar nature; second, to pro vide a paper which is non-absorbent of water or moisture, or, in other words, substantially waterproof; third, to provide a paper which is non-absorbent of grease, or, in other words, grease-proof; fourth, to provide a paper which is non-absorbent of acids, or, in other words, acid-proof; fifth, to furnish a paper which is a non-conductor of electricity; sixth, to furnish a paper suitable for packing joints in pipes and connections; seventh, to produce a hygenic paper, and, eighth, to produce paper possessing any or all of these advantages in a greater and more marked degree than has been heretofore done.

My invention consists of the product after the paper has been treated in accordance with the method or process hereinafter described, and I attain the objects of my invention, both singly and collectively, as hereinafter 'set forth.

In carrying out my invention any convenient and appropriate machinery or apparatus may be employed; but'the best and only known method for producing this paper is described as follows: The treatment may be applied while the pulp is being formed into paper, or the finished paper may be treated. If the material is to be treated while being formed into paper, then the better method is to be- The treatment consists, first, in saturating the paper with glutinous material, preferably animal glue, and by preference the bath of glutinous material should be hot to eifect the more rapid absorption and more perfect permeation, impregnation, and deposit of the glutinous material within all the microscopic interstices throughout the body of the paper being treated. By preference a suitable tank is provided in which the glutinous material is deposited and in which it may be kept heated to a constant temperature, the paper being passed through the tank and saturated during its passage. I prefer that the material being treated be kept in motion and pass in a continuous sheet--that is, be fed from a roll and the finished product be wound in a roll after final treatmentthis saves time, and I find that the requisite permeation or incorporation of glutinous matter in the fiber will with some papersfor instance, lightly sized Manila hemprequire but a few seconds. As the paper passes from the glutin-tank the surplus of glutinous matter is removed from the surface by mechanical means as contradistinguished from simply allowing it to pass off by gravity, and in most instances'I prefer to pass the paper between suitable pressure-rolls to remove such surplus. The strength and consistency of the glutinous bath may be varied, depending upon the material being treated and the uses for which such material is designed. It may, however, be stated that in a majority of cases a hot solution of about one part of animal glue to about ten parts of water, by weight, gives the best results. After leaving the bath of glutinous material and having the surplus adhering to the surfaces removed the paper before drying is passed into or through a solution of formaldehyde and water to set the glutinous material. The strength of this solution may also be variable, depending, as heretofore stated, upon the paper and uses for which it is designed. In the majority of cases, however, a solution of one part of formaldehyde (thirty-five-per-cent. solution) to five parts of water, by weight, gives the best results, and the best result is attained if this bath is cold instead of hot, though any particular temperature is not essentially necessary. The effect of the formaldehyde solution upon the glutinsaturated paper is to precipitate the glutinous matter and render it insoluble.

As the material comes from the formaldehyde-bath I prefer that the surplus adhering to the surfaces be removed by mechanical means, pressure-rolls being probably most convenient. convenient manner. The best result in drying, so far as I am at present advised, is attained by the air-blast?,'. e., projecting blasts of air against both surfaces of the paper.

This drying removes all the watery constituents and leaves the paper in a toughened or greatly strengthened condition, but not in practical condition for commercial uses, as it is brittle, horny, and stiff and has an objectionable odor and taste on account of the presence of the aldehydes, paraldehydes, formic acid, and other products, the result of oxidation, hence needs to be tempered. Now while the glutinous material is rendered insolublethat is, it is so acted upon by the formaldehyde and the chemical action which takes place while the united solutions are giving of]. their watery constituents that it will not fully dissolve-it is, however, in a condition to be acted on by moisture, as it will swell and absorb or take up permanently by either chemical or mechanical action a percentage of water and will also become improved in many respects, so that to temper and render the paper soft and pliable and adapt it for most commercial uses I subject it to moisture, which penetrates the paper, causing a swelling in all directions, filling the interstices perfectly and resulting in hydration throughout the entire cellular structure. Two actions, mechanical and chemical, appear to take place, the mechanical action being the temporary absorption of water analogous to the absorption of Water by a dry sponge, the chemical action being the permanent union of water with the treated paper, analogous to the union of water and tapioca, causing swelling, or like the chemical combination of water with lime or cement. For this purpose I prefer to pass the paper into a bath of hot water, saturated steam, or equivalent heat-and-moisture medium, thus causing the fibers and the non-soluble glutinous material filling the interstices to expand in all directions and forcing the glutinous material into all the microscopic pores or openings and into the masses of fiber, causing a commingling or thorough incorporation of the fibers and the glutinous compound, and at the same time, as heretofore indicated, a change (hydration) takes place, whereby the hardened mass of fiber, glutinous material, and formaldehyde becomes The paper is then dried in any after receiving the alkali treatment.

tempered and softened and the strength imparted by the previous treatment increased. To heighten the tempering and softening effect, I may in some instances introduce glycerin in the tempering-bath, and in most cases one two-hundredths in volume of glycerin gives the best results.

The paper may be dried in any convenient manner and is in condition for most commercial uses, it being greatly strengthened, more flexible, more impervious to moisture, acids, grease, or alkalies, and is suitable for the manufacture of binding-twine, carpets, and many novelties, for dry wrappings and lining packing-cases, 620., but is liable to haveadisagreeable taste and may carry traces of acids, rendering it impracticable for some uses-for instance, wrapping butter, meats, cheese, &c.

The paper is also valuable as a packing for joints in steam, water, and other pipes or connections. For the purpose, therefore, of rendering the material absolutely free from all traces of acidity and all taste and odors and, in fact, to render it absolutely hygienic I pass it through a bath of water and a volatile alkali, (ammonium hydrate,) the proportion by preference in a majority of cases being one one-hundred th of ammonium hydrate to ninety-nine one-hundredths of Water by volume, and I may add a small percentage of wood-alcohol. This bath is preferably cool; but a variation in its temperature will not to a serious extent interfere with the results. The effect of this bath followed by drying is to complete the chemical reaction and destroy all taste or odor, removing all traces of acids and rendering the paper hygienic in all respects. The material may be calendered or cut and used for any of the purposes desired. If the material is to be subjected to the volatile-alkali bath, it is not necessary to dry it between the tempering and volatile-alkali baths.

The paper madein accordance with the foregoing will be found to be greatly strengthened, some materials being increased in strength from one hundred to seven hundred per cent. It will be non-absorbent to acids, greases, and alkalies and substantially waterproof, and owing to its component integrate structure will be practically non-conductive to electricity, adapting it as a superior insulating material, and may with perfect safety be employed for wrapping butter, meats,

spices, groceries, and all materials whether unctious or otherwise.

By the term hydration as used herein I mean the subjecting of the material (after treatment with glutinous material and formaldehyde and drying) to moisture, whereby the action herein described takes place.

A sheet or web of paper can be treated by the hereinbefore-described process as rapidly as it is manufactured, as the time for exposure to the action of the glutinous material need not be longer than the time required for it to become saturated, this of course varying with different thicknesses and densities, and the length of time of exposure may be fixed without checking the speed by'making the tank of such length that the requisite time will elapse While the sheet is passing through it and the guides so arranged as to maintain the sheet in position to be acted on by'such solution the requisite length of time. I find four seconds exposure to the action of formaldehyde sufiicient in most cases.

Having, therefore, described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A paper with its cellular structure permeated and impregnated with a formaldehydetreated glutinous material permanently and insolubly incorporated therewith, the whole being softened by hydration.

2. A sheet of fibrous material with its interstices filled with a glutinous substance that has been set before being dried and thereafter dried and tempered by hydration, the whole constituting a corporeal mass of united tissue throughout.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OHARLES IGNATIUS GOESSMANN. 

